Most Serbian schools were built in the age of the great Yugoslav construction of the mid-20th century: austere 2–3-story panel buildings with monotonous PVC windows, paved courtyards with football and basketball grounds, lace curtains and aspidistra. But time changes. EdDesign Mag studied the Serbian education system, met with architects who design and reconstruct Serbian schools, and tried to find out how the country, which in two years will host the international Expo-2027 exhibition, adapts its education system to global standards.
Demolition or Reconstruction?
In the very center of Vračar, one of the central districts of Belgrade, there is the Svetozar Marković school. It is unlikely that you will pay attention to this early 1950s building. It is a typical school with a classic L-shaped layout, clinker bricks, terrazzo inserts and rows of PVC windows. However, if you look up, you’ll see an unusual third floor. The additional floor is the result of a 2017 reconstruction. The a2arhitektura architectural bureau was faced with the task of adapting the school to current needs, while preserving the general layout of the site and not violating the architectural concept.
The team coped with the task brilliantly. The school received additional space. The third floor houses five classrooms, a teachers’ room, a library, a reading hall with an outdoor recreational area, and an assembly hall. Also, during the renovation process, it was possible to eliminate the defects that arose during the old project implementation. For the facade of the new library and multifunctional hall, as well as the stairwell, secondary cladding made of perforated painted steel sheet was used. This solution made it possible to add additional natural light to both the stairwells and corridors.
Photo: Svetozar Marković school, Relja Ivanić
The Svetozar Marković school is not just an example of an effective and careful renovation of a building (by the way, the reconstruction was approved by the Agency for the Protection of Monuments), but also a good illustration of the problems that modern architect bureaus in the country are trying to solve. There are enough schools in Serbia, however, some of them are obsolete and outdated. At the same time, according to experts from a2arhitektura, the idea of demolishing and rebuilding schools is not always the best one.
Dijan Adžemović-Andželković and Vladimir Andželković, architects of a2arhitektura:
“Among the advantages of Yugoslav schools is a logical layout, the use of advanced construction solutions and, what’s more important, durable materials – concrete, stone, terrazzo, brick. The buildings of that time were designed to be durable. This is their advantage. However, we need to adapt buildings to up-to-date requirements: ensure inclusiveness, improve sanitary conditions and the level of general comfort for students, create new functional areas, and adapt schools for children’s rest and leisure.
The main challenges in the reconstruction of school buildings are associated, first of all, with the work of designers: how best to fit a new architectural solution into an existing structure, how to preserve the advantages of the historical architecture – clear architectural forms, natural finishing materials, high-quality peculiar design details. We also pay great attention to design solutions: we check the reliability of existing structures, strengthen and modernize them, trying not to violate the aesthetic integrity of the building”
How Does the Education System Work in Serbia?
Preschool education: The country has introduced a mandatory pre-school preparatory program – all children between the ages of five and six must undergo “pre-school training,” which lasts 9 months. Such groups function both in kindergartens and there are also special groups at schools, while their goal is to ensure equal entry points for students. Preschool education is free in state institutions.
Primary education. Primary education (osnovna škola) is compulsory in Serbia — this is school from 1st to 8th grade. There, the education is divided into two stages: students of the first four grades have only one teacher, while in grades 5–8, there are subject teachers. Education in publicly funded schools is free. In addition to regular schools, there are primary music and ballet schools — they are also free and funded by the state. Children of national minorities are guaranteed the right to study in their native language or in a bilingual format. When students finish their 8th grade education, they take a final exam (the so-called “Mala Matura”). The results of this exam and school grades are combined into points required for admission to secondary school: based on the points scored and the preferences of graduates, they are assigned to gymnasiums and vocational schools.
Secondary education. Secondary school (srednja škola) is not compulsory in Serbia, but most children continue their education after finishing the 8th grade. Secondary education lasts 3 or 4 years depending on the field of study. There are several types of secondary educational institutions:
- Gymnasiums (general secondary education) — four-year academic schools, usually with a specific area profile — for example, general education, natural sciences, humanities, information technology or languages. Graduates of gymnasiums receive a General Certificate of Education (diploma of secondary education).
- Vocational (specialized) schools — colleges and technical schools that provide professional education. Four-year technical and medical schools, along with qualifications, provide students with the right to enter university, whereas graduates of three-year programs, as a rule, enter the manpower market (while, they can continue their education through special courses).
“Classroom of the Future”
In 2022, the “Classroom of the Future” was opened in the middle school of the town of Smederevska Palanka — a pilot project for the modernization of the school environment in small towns, implemented through charitable support. Architect Aleksandar Gasic designed a 55 m² computer classroom that is intended to set a new standard for digital learning and clearly demonstrate how space can influence the quality of education and even the urban community. A high-tech multimedia center was set up in place of a standard classroom: more than 20 computers, an interactive digital Wi-Fi board. Complemented by a design similar to that of trendy IT offices: dominated by grey and white colors, mobile furniture, transparent partitions and “smart” systems for environment control. Teachers can change the lighting with one click — the color scheme and brightness of the light are adjusted to grip the attention of the students. The space is transformable to accommodate different learning formats: tables and chairs are designed to be easily rearranged for team or individual work.
Photo: Classroom of the Future, Relja Ivanić
Another important thing is that the project was also designed as a social one. The “Classroom of the Future” is used not only for IT lessons, but also for teacher training and educational seminars for the entire community. Through this, the school in Smederevska Palanka has become a center of digital literacy for all city residents. Incidentally, the project has inspired other similar initiatives — modernized classrooms and media libraries began to appear in a number of Serbian schools with the support of private donors and the government, and the Serbian government announced a competition to create laboratories for project-based learning in dozens of schools, equipped with 3D printers, robotics and other modern gadgets.
Photo:
According to Aleksandar Gasic, the most difficult part of the project was finding a compromise between ambitious goals and a limited budget.
Aleksandar Gasic, architect:
It seems to me that, in the first instance, Serbian schools lack modern infrastructure and access to high-end technology. Despite existing modernization programs, many educational institutions still operate with outdated equipment. It is also important for us to ensure equal opportunities for all students. We lack flexible spaces that would allow us to organize various formats of classwork, i.e. teamwork, creative workshops, interactive digital presentations.
At the same time, it is important to invest in improving the qualifications of teachers so that they can effectively use new methods and technologies.
Zemun Gymnasium: an Example of a Large-Scale Reconstruction of an Architectural Monument
Conceptually, the idea of reconstructing massive housing area schools seems relatively simple: most often, they require high-quality adaptation to modern requirements. However, when it comes to individually designed historical buildings, their reconstruction almost always involves finding a balance between preserving the building and expanding its usable area. An example of successful work with historical heritage is the renovation of the Zemun Grammar School in Belgrade. It is one of the oldest educational buildings in the country, built in 1879 and expanded in 1914; an architectural monument with a beautiful neoclassical façade. The gymnasium had not seen major repairs for almost 100 years, whereas the recent reconstruction literally returned the school to its former glory.
Photo: Zemun Gymnasium, Boris Nikolašević
The architects managed not only to scrupulously restore the school’s historical appearance, but also to add more than 1,000 m² of area, using a huge attic space that had never been used before. The work included attic clearing (removing a multi-centimeter layer of bird droppings that had accumulated over decades) and reinforcing its structures — glued wooden beams were added and new floors were installed. That way the school was able to obtain a new floor for clubs and extracurricular activities. As part of the project, the heating and ventilation systems were completely updated and modern laboratories were equipped. At the same time, the historical interior details, such as stucco, floors, wooden railings, were carefully restored.
Photo: Zemun Gymnasium, Boris Nikolašević
Inclusion, Digitalization and Coding
Over the past twenty years, the Serbian school education system has undergone a number of important transformations. Since 1990s, when education experienced difficulties due to wars and slowing economy, the country has actively joined European educational projects. One of the pivotal points was the 2009 reform, when the government adopted a package of new laws on education.
These laws, in particular, laid the foundation for the transition to inclusive education — the integration of children with special educational needs into comprehensive school with the provision of additional support. The previous “health-based” model, which involved isolating children with disabilities in special schools, has given way to a social model: at that point the goal of the educational system shifted to removing barriers to learning and adapting to the individual capabilities of each child. Schools began to introduce individualized curricula, added positions for assistants for children with special needs, and began conducting training for teachers on differentiated learning. Although problems remain (as of 2021, several thousand children with special needs were still being taught separately in special classes or schools), overall inclusivity in the country has significantly improved.
That reform also changed the architectural requirements for schools. Such factors as accessibility of the environment for students with limited mobility and the need to create resource rooms for correctional assistance started to be taken into account during reconstruction. In addition to inclusion based on health grounds, efforts are aimed at supporting children from vulnerable groups (for example, the Roma minority) — they are helped with preparing for school, provided with additional teachers, and provided with free textbooks.
What About the New Schools?
Along with reconstructions, new school buildings appear in the country. The pace of school construction in Serbia is not very high (usually new schools appear in new residential areas), however, several interesting projects are worth mentioning.
Photo: Elementary School «Vera Miščević» in Belegiš, SADA
For example, in 2018, a modern primary school was built in the village of Belegish on the Danube, designed by the Serbian bureau A&D architects. The new building was constructed on the site of a school built in 1952, which was demolished due to a decrease in structural stability (two wings, where the gym and changing rooms are located, were preserved). According to the bureau’s representatives, they proposed making some of the classrooms suitable for classes in different disciplines. Architecturally, the above made it possible to save resources and make the design more compact and appropriate for a small town.
Danilo Grahovac, architect of A&D architects:
The most important task that we faced was to change the school’s educational system by introducing a new approach of “integrated learning,” reducing class divisions. Life is a seamless whole, while the fragmented system has taught us to care only about our “area of work.” The above is manifested everywhere, for example in construction sector, where the scope of responsibility of engineer No. 1 includes electricity, engineer No. 2 — safety issues and engineer No. 3 — environmental protection issues. And it’s difficult for them to reach an agreement. We tried to look into the past, where there was one doctor, a healer, one builder, a protomaster, and so on. This approach allowed us to reduce the area of the school to 1,000 m², but allocate the space more efficiently. It seems to me that, in addition to saving money, it promotes a sense of belonging, community and responsibility.
To make the construction of new schools more economically feasible, most new projects include spaces that can be used after school hours for clubs, sports groups, or even as community spaces for the area. In this way, the school becomes a space open not only to students, but also to the entire community, thus, implementing the community school principle. For example, a new school in Novi Sad is planning to have an assembly hall available for local cultural events, and the gym will be open to the youth of the area in the evenings.
Photo: Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, PLAT.FORM.A
This principle is also followed by the builders of the new campus of the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade. The PLAT.FORM.A studio project provides for the creation of a green, usable roof that will become a continuation of the pedestrian route from the historical city center to the Sava River. In fact, the project symbolizes the trend towards integrating educational spaces into the urban fabric: the university will be open to the city through exhibition halls on the ground floor, open-air student exhibitions on the green roof, while the surrounding cultural environment (museums and galleries in the Kosančićev Venac district) will become a natural extension of the campus.
Photo: Bilingual school in Belgrade, Belgrade Waterfront
Another significant project is the new bilingual school in Belgrade, the first public school with bilingual education. It is being built as part of a large-scale development of the area on the banks of the Sava River. The school will be located behind the building of the former railway station (where a museum and children’s center are to be located), two steps away from the new interactive complex, the Chamber of Science, and will become part of the “family quarter.” This school is planned to be the most modern state school: teaching there from the first grade will be partially arranged in English. The project involves the arrangement of a large school ground with multifunctional areas, making it also a public space: fields for handball, basketball, volleyball, and even an “open-air classroom” — a green area with an outdoor amphitheater for celebrations and outdoor lessons.
March 2025
